Latch operated coil spring clutch

Abstract

A spring clutch device includes a driving side clutch shell, a driven side clutch shell opposed to and coaxial with the driving side clutch shell, a clutch spring disposed in a tight manner over the two clutch shells, a stop member disposed coaxially with the clutch shells and engaged with one end of the clutch spring to control the action of the clutch spring, and a control member for acting on the stop member, there are formed projections on the circumference of the stop member, in an axially and circumferentially staggered relationship, and the control member is selectively displaceable to positions corresponding to the projections for engagement and disengagement with the projections, thereby controlling ON-OFF of the clutch.

What we claim is: 
     
       1. A spring clutch device comprising: a driving side clutch shell;   a driven side clutch shell opposed to and coaxial with said driving side clutch shell;   a clutch spring disposed in a tight manner over said two clutch shells;   a stop member disposed coaxially with said clutch shells and engaged with one end of said clutch spring to control the action of said clutch spring, said stop member having projections formed on the circumference thereof in an axially and circumferentially staggered relationship; and   a control member selectively displaceable to axial positions corresponding to said axially staggered projections to selectively contact said projections to thereby control the engagement and disengagement thereof with said driven side clutch shell.   
     
     
       2. A spring clutch device according to claim 1, wherein said staggered projections of said stop member are located at positions circumferentially about 180° out of phase with each other.